Utilities eye small modular nuclear reactors for reliability as hyperscalers drive demand
Open Intelligence launches Smartlab to accelerate the value of AI in utilities and telecommunications | Utility Dive
Open Intelligence announced the launch of Smartlab, a lab aimed at helping utility and telecommunications companies convert AI investments into tangible business value. Smartlab starts with enterprise priorities, evaluates opportunity value, data availability, and technical feasibility to select AI use cases worth testing, and delivers validated MVPs, solution designs, and investment estimates. The lab complements Open's Smartflex platform, ensuring deep integration of AI innovation with existing operations.
National Grid’s different gas-electric forecasts are responsible planning
In response to a recent Utility Dive opinion article claiming that utility companies use "conflicting" electricity and gas forecasts to inflate customer bills, Philip DeCicco, General Counsel of National Grid New York, writes a rebuttal, pointing out that the article misinterprets what the forecasts measure, whom they serve, and planning requirements, emphasizing that differences arise from varying customer bases and planning goals, and calling for fact-based discussions on the energy transition.
Land-based wind power pipeline shrinks as price gap with solar widens
The latest market report from the American Clean Power Association (ACP) shows that in the second quarter of 2026, the United States added nearly 5 gigawatts of new onshore wind capacity, but the project pipeline decreased by 4% quarter-over-quarter, mainly due to regulatory review and price pressures. Meanwhile, the PPA price gap between onshore wind and solar photovoltaics widened to $22.39 per megawatt-hour, setting a historical record. ACP Senior Vice President John Hensley stated that at least 44 gigawatts of wind projects are backlogged in U.S. Department of Defense reviews, and recent court rulings may prompt a resumption of these reviews. Although the overall clean energy pipeline exceeds 200 gigawatts, wind projects face challenges such as grid interconnection bottlenecks and cost competition.
CISA scraps 6 free cybersecurity assessments for critical infrastructure operators
CISA has confirmed that its regional staff will no longer perform six cybersecurity assessment services, including cyber resilience reviews and ransomware readiness assessments. The decision was communicated at an internal meeting on August 25, coinciding with the agency having lost about one-third of its employees since the second Trump administration. CISA states the move aims to reduce redundancy and guide operators toward Cross-Sector Cybersecurity Performance Goals (CPGs), but former officials and industry experts question the effectiveness of the alternatives, fearing an overall increase in national cyber risk.
Santee Cooper partners with Google in shift toward AI-driven forecasting
Santee Cooper announced on Thursday a partnership with Google to drive its financial planning and load forecasting toward an AI-driven transformation. The utility's Chief Financial Officer, Tami Wilson, stated in a Wednesday conference call that Google's WeatherNext 2 model is expected to significantly improve load forecasting, while the Gemini enterprise agent platform will accelerate the financial forecasting process. Wilson emphasized that this "major digital transformation" aims to move away from traditional cumbersome processes, but accountability and risk management remain under human control.
Silicon Valley Disposition to auction off high power electrical systems and manufacturing equipment from a major hydrogen-electric aircraft developer | Utility Dive
Silicon Valley Disposition announced it will hold an online auction on August 14, 2026, to dispose of assets from the Everett, WA facility of a major hydrogen-electric aircraft developer. Auction items include a 720 kW DC power supply, Keysight N8930A power supply, OPAL-RT HIL simulator, Rockwell regenerative drive system, HBM data acquisition system, multiple oscilloscopes and spectrum analyzers, aviation propellers, HEMTT M977 8x8 heavy trucks, and more. The auction is open to automotive and electric vehicle manufacturers, aerospace companies, engineering firms, robotics developers, electronics manufacturers, research institutions, and testing laboratories.